Lock construction



July 3, 1962 s. SEGAL 3,041,866

LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jul 8, 1959 M INVENTOR.

SAMUEL 556/11.

3,641,866 Patented July 3, 1962 free 3,041,856 LGCK CONSTRUCTION SamuelSegal, 441 West End Ave, New York, N.Y. Filed July 8, 1959, Set. No.825,833 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-15) The present invention relates to a lockconstruction.

Although the present invention is particularly described in itsapplication to lock constructions as may be applied to door locks it hasa much broader application to locks which may be generally utilized forsafes and for other closures.

In the ordinary door lock it is customary to provide a safety deviceusually manipulated from the inside of the door so in case the tumblerlock is removed from the outside there will be a closure automaticallyactuated to prevent a screw driver from being inserted to turn or openthe lock.

In one form of safety device a prong projects from the side of theinterior of the lock in the inside face of the door and it is necessaryto press such device down and over in order to permit the blade of thetumbler lock to project therethrough into actuating position. Thesedevices not only are frequently bent or readily damaged intomanipulation but they are also diflicult to manipulate and are notreliable in their action.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an automaticrelease device which will permit the insertion of the blade but at thesame time if the blade of the tumbler lock mechanism be removed willpermit immediate closure of the recess permitting access to the lock,itself, so that a screw driver may not be inserted to release or openthe locking mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novel locking arrangement in which thesafety device for closure of the lock in case of external removal of thetumbler arrangement will be achieved without projections from theinterior of the lock and without the use of projecting stud or leafelements readily bent out of position or damaged by the user thereof.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactoryaccording to one embodiment of the present invention to form the safetydevice so that it is all included in a shallow enclosure readily keyedto the back of the main lock and which will be readily actuated intoreleased position when the lock is assembled against the back plate ofthe door.

In accomplishing this, there is provided a slidable or laterally movableplate in said shallow receptacle provided with a biasing spring whichwill normally be locked in retracted position but which when pressedagainst the back plate on a door will be moved to release position sothat it may close the opening into the lock if the tumbler be removedtogether with its knife blade. Normally, it is sumcient if the slidingplate be recessed at one corner thereof and be driven by a stress springso that the attachment of the lock to the back of the door willautomatically release the sliding plate mechanism.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an inside perspective view of a lock mechanism in its positionas it maybe ready to be placed against the back of the door before thelocking plate has been latched in position and showing the tumbler withthe lock and key in removed position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view partly in section taken upon the line 22 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the latchedposition permitting insertion of the blade.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing theplate in recessed position with the whole lock.

FIG. 4 is a one side sectional view showing the section of the plateupon the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown an interior lock mechanism Ahaving the locking rod B which engages the receptacle stud member Cmounted on the jamb. The lock is designed to be mounted upon the insideface of the door E which receives the tumbler lock face member Freceiving the key G with a tumbler member H and the attachment screws J.The tumbler is designed to be attached to the back plate K which acts asan abutment plate which serves to release the safety mechanism L. Thesafety mechanism L includes a shallow box-like enclosure M which may bekeyed to the back of a lock structure A and which is provided with asliding plate N having a driving spring D. The plate N is normallylocked in retracted position as indicated in FIG. 2A until it isinserted and by insertion it will be released by contact with the backplate K but will be prevented from sliding to the left, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 by the blade Q projecting inwardly from the tumbler lockH.

A sleeve bearing R is also provided projecting through said plate withinwhich the blade Q will turn, serving both to prevent wear by the blade Qagainst the edges of plate N and also serving as a pivot upon which theblade may oscillate when it is depressed upon movement against the backplate K.

The safety device itself will have the top wall 10, the end wall 11 andthe side walls 12 which may have downwardly projecting prongs 13 whichproject :into recesses 14 in the plate element 15 of the lock.

The opening 16 in the back plate 10 will receive the blade Q of thetumbler lock and the sleeve R will have a barrel or cylinder member 17within which the blade Q will be turned. The flange or outwardlyprojecting lip 18 will act as a pivot mount upon which the plate N mayrock. Normally the sleeve 17 will fit through an opening in the plateand protect the edges of the opening from wear against the side edges ofblade Q and at the same time will permit a rocking motion as indicatedby the double arrow 20, preventing the plate from rubbing either againstthe plate 15 on the back of the lock or the top wall 10 of the boxenclosure M. t

The reciprocator plate N has a recessed portion in which the coil springD is received. This coil spring will normally bias or tend to press thelocking plate or enclosure plate N in the direction of the arrow 23 (seeFIG. 3). The sliding plate N has a downturned oblique locking tongueportion 24 which when the plate is locked in open position will latch inthe opening 25 in the wall 10 of the enclosure M.

The end of the wall 10 has projecting out of the end of the enclosure Mthe oblique actuating tongue member 27. Normally the locking of theoblique tongue 24 in the opening25 will cause the sleeve 17 to match theopenings 16 and the opening 29 in the plate 15 through which the bladeprojects to actuate the lock A. However, it is aoanaas desired toprovide that in case the external tumbler F is removed that this opening29 be closed so that a screw driver can not be inserted to open thelock. This is accomplished by the safety device of the presentapplication indicated at L in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In assembly the tumbler H is first assembled in position with the backplate K by means of the side screws I which extend through the doorstructure E and also through the ears 41 at the side of the tumbler body42. Then the lock A may be attached by screws extending through theopenings 43 and 44 (see PEG. 1) at the back of the door. When thisoccurs the nose 28 of the locking plate will be pressed inwardly asindicated by the arrow 45 (FIG. 3) releasing the oblique locking tongue24 from the opening 25. This will cause the plate N to be free to movein the direction 23 under the influence of the stress spring D. However,it will be held in position by extending the blade Q through the opening29 into the lock structure A. However, it through any manipulation theexternal tumbler lock F is removed or drilled away and the blade Q iswithdrawn, the plate N will immediately move to the left in thedirection of the arrow 23 blocking the opening 29, which permits entryto the lock A, and preventing insertion of a screw driver to operate thelocking mechanism and open the door.

It is thus apparent that by the use of this relatively simple, compact,automatically actuated device the lock is protected against removal ofthe external tumbler arrangernent H and it is impossible to insert ascrew driver to operate the lock after the blade Q and tumbler H havebeen withdrawn.

The setting of the plate N does not depend upon any manual manipulationof any prong or blade projecting from the end of the lock and the plateis automatcially set in released position ready to close the opening 29as shown as the lock A has received the blade Q and been assembledagainst the back of a door with the tumbler H in position.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention,it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and inrelative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of theinvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed:

What is claimed is:

1. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the backof a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member isconnected by attachment screws extending transversely through an openingin the body of the door and also of the type having an external keyactuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internallyprojecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closurehaving an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into saidopening and operating said lock, said device being positioned betweensaid tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when saidtumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box onthe back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring meansbiasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, saidplate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and alatch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold saidplate against movement in said direction, said back plate on the back ofthe door upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the door serving tocontact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit said plate to bemoved in said direction under the action of said biasing means.

2. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the backof a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member isconnected by attachment screws extending transversely through an openingin the body of the door and also of the type having an external keyactuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internallyprojecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closurehaving an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into saidopening and operating said lock, said device being positioned betweensaid tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when saidtumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box onthe back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring meansbiasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, saidplate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and alatch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold saidplate against movement in said direction, said latch consisting of anoutstanding tongue and a corresponding opening in the top of said box,said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of the lock uponthe back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatch saidlatch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under theaction of said biasing means.

3. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the backof a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member isconnected by attachment screws extending transversely through an openingin the body of the door and also of the type having an external keyactuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internallyprojecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closurehaving an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into saidopening and operating said lock, said device being positioned betweensaid tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when saidtumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box onthe back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, means biasing saidplate in one direction to close off said lock opening and a latch tohold said plate against movement in said direction, said plate having anoutstanding obliquely directed member automatically releasing said latchupon assembly of the lock against the closure, said back plate on theback of the door Upon mounting of the lock upon the back of the doorserving to contact said plate and unlatch said latch to permit saidplate to be moved in said direction under the action of said biasingmeans.

4. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the backof a door having a back plate to which a tumbler lock member isconnected by attachment screws extending transversely through an openingin the body of the door and also of the type having an external keyactuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internallyprojecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closurehaving an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into saidopening and operating said lock, said device being positioned betweensaid tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when saidtumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box onthe back of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring meansbiasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, saidplate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and alatch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold saidplate against movement in said direction, said plate having a centralopening through which said blade passes and said opening receiving abearing sleeve for said blade to prevent contact between the blade andthe plate, said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of thelock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatchsaid latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under theaction of said biasing means.

5. A safety device for a lock of the type to be positioned on the backof a door having -a back plate to which a tumbler lock member isconnected by attachment screws extending transversely through an openingin the body of the door and also of the type having an external keyactuated tumbler on the exterior of the closure with an internallyprojecting operating blade and a lock on the interior of the closurehaving an opening to receive said blade, said blade projecting into saidopening and operating said lock, said device being positioned betweensaid tumbler and lock and preventing access to said lock when saidtumbler and blade are removed, said device including a shallow box onthe bass of the lock, a sliding plate in the box, coil spring meansbiasing said plate in one direction to close off said lock opening, saidplate being recessed at one corner thereof to receive said spring, and alatch consisting of an obliquely disposed outstruck tongue to hold saidplate against movement in said direction, said plate having a centralopening through which said blade projects and mounting means for saidplate so that said plate shall be substantially free from frictionalcontact with the lock or with the box and may be readily moved 'by saidspring, said back plate on the back of the door upon mounting of thelock upon the back of the door serving to contact said plate and unlatchsaid latch to permit said plate to be moved in said direction under theaction of said biasing means.

6. A safety tampenproof tumbler type lock construction of the typehaving a tumbler key receiving front member accessible on the front of adoor with a rearwardly extending rectangular blade and a box receptaclecarrying the lock operating mechanism on the rear of the door, the rearend of said blade extending into a receptacle opening in the receptacleand upon rotation of the blade operating said lock mechanism, saidconstruction including a temper proof, spring-closed closure plate,normally latched in open position, to close off said openingautomatically and prevent insertion of a screw driver to open the lockmechanism when the blade is removed from the front of the door, saidplate having a partial enclosure box with an open side with a springbiasing the rear end of said plate out of said box and latch means tohold said plate against locking movement during mounting andautomatically to release said plate after mounting, and a plate openingin said plate to match said receptacle opening and receiving said bladeto hold said plate against movement by said spring when said blade is inposition and releasing said plate to closure position closing saidreceptacle opening when the blade is removed.

7. The lock construction of claim 6, said plate opening having a bearingsleeve to hold said plate centrally in position to prevent bearing ofthe edges of the blade against the edges of the opening in the plate.

8. The lock construction of claim 6, said plate at its forward end awayfrom said spring having two out-turned oblique latch tongues, one tolatch and hold the receptacle and plate openings aligned duringinstallation and the other to release the plate after installation andinsertion of the blade through the aligned openings.

9. The lock construction of claim 6, said plate being recessed at itsrear end and a coil spring being positioned in said recess and reactingbetween the end of the recess in the plate and the rear end of thepartial enclosure box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,764,898 Segal June 17, 1930 1,904,882 Prior Apr. 18, 1933 2,942,449White June 28, 1960

